Demonstration of Agri Drone for Foliar nutrition in Cowpea at Dhargal, Pernem

            An agricultural drone spray demonstration was conducted at Dhargal village, Pernem taluka, North Goa, on 21 January 2026 by ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra, North Goa, ICAR–Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa, in collaboration with ATMA (North), Directorate of Agriculture, Government of Goa. The programme showcased drone-based foliar nutrition for the cowpea crop over an area of 2.5 hectares, with the objective of raising awareness of the use of drones in modern agriculture.

            During the demonstration, an agri-drone was used to uniformly spray DAP on the standing crop, highlighting advantages such as precision, efficiency, reduced labour requirements, minimal crop damage, and optimal fertilizer use. Farmers observed the effectiveness and time-saving benefits of drone technology compared to conventional methods. An awareness session was also organized on the broader applications of drones in agriculture, including fertilizer and pesticide spraying, crop monitoring, and crop health assessment, emphasizing the role of advanced technologies in reducing costs and improving productivity. In this event, 12 farmers, including 3 women, participated in the programme.

            Farmers from Dhargal and nearby villages actively participated and showed keen interest in adopting drone technology. The programme provided practical exposure to precision agriculture and promoted sustainable and efficient farming practices. The programme was coordinated by Dr. N. Bommayasamy, with technical support from Shri Vishwajeet Prajapati, Technical Officer cum DGCA Certified Drone Pilot, Shri Suraj Nhanji, BTM, ATMA (North), and Shri Aishwar Kumar Tiwari, Technical Trainee.